7/29/13 - almost the end of the month!

Well, it's almost the end of the month and I'm looking back at my goals. I can run a mile without walking, but that's the only one I reached. I haven't broken 170 yet (and this week I doubt I will as it's PMS time again and that means I hold water). I didn't do the planking challenge that I set out to be a part of... I have just had so much going on this month that my specific fitness goals haven't been my focus. I mean, fitness is ALWAYS a focus of mine... I've been eating clean and keeping track of intake, but with so much else on my plate, I've been struggling.
So much uncertainty in my life and constant anxiety and fear make it really hard for me to focus on anything really. I mean, I haven't even been on any dates this month LOL got stood up twice and that was probably for the best...clearly my life isn't ready to be shared with anyone else.

8:30a
150 - 1/2 cup oats
100 - greek yogurt
200 - 2 cups natural apple sauce

2:00p
150 - 1/2 cup oats

I REALLY need to go grocery shopping today. I have almost nothing in my fridge because I didn't want to buy produce before I went home for the weekend.

3pm
100 - apple

Bike to/from gym. Legs: warm up, trx single leg squats, ballerina squats, side leg raises, round-the-world lunges, dead lifts, posterior leg raises, hamstring curl, leg extension, glute kickback
Wednesday my gym has free training for membership appreciation, so I got a 3pm with the head trainer. Pretty stoked.

5:30
100 - bag of slaw
0 - mustard & vinegar
70 - 1 tbsp chia seed
25 - roma tomato
140 - 2 Boca burger patties
...it's now 6pm and I haven't finished my dinner. I'm feeling full.

Went for a run... 2.6 miles. Check Nike+ :)

Biked to/from the grocery store...
9:00
140 - York peppermint patty (yeah, saw it when I was checking out and thought, yep, that's what I want LOL)

300 - SO much Artic Zero!! :))
.1480.

where to start

Everyone asks me, where do I start?
How about here? Now?

First thing you need to do is figure out WHY you want to lose weight. Make a list. Fill a whole page if you have to... but then look at your list and pick the 5 things that are the most important.

Take a note card and write those top 5 reasons down.
Now, if you can, laminate this or just use tape or contact paper... but this is now your daily reminder card. Put it in your pocket (not your purse) so you feel it there and you remember to look at it a few times every day. Any time you're tempted to make decisions that you know aren't healthy.

So, I'm share...here are my top 5 (if you have +/- 1 on your list it's ok too, just prioritize):
1. Look & feel good naked
2. More confidence
3. Wear cuter clothes
4. Attract fit guys

For me, I might add #5 "fitness modeling" ... as that is something I might try once I reach my body fat goals. But remember, we're all different. So please don't think that you need to look like ANYONE else! Just be you. Healthy you.


Ok, so, SET A GOAL:
I really advise against setting a number. Instead, set a reasonable size expectation and learn to not focus on just weight as one can easily become obsessed and addicted to weighing in. So... set a goal like "fit in my size 8 jeans without a muffin top" etc...

But if that is your end goal, be sure to set little goals along the way. For example: I started out as a size 16 at my heaviest. My original goal was to fit in a size 10 (now my goal is an 8...if my leg muscles will allow it). But for each size that I dropped, I treated myself to something-- NOT FOOD! Like, a new hand bag, or a pair of shoes (remember, buying new jeans can be a crazy investment that you end up moving past...but hot shoes will always fit hehe)... or maybe it's a pedicure? A massage? TREAT YOURSELF!
Set goals for along your health & fitness journey.
Examples:
1. Go a whole week without chocolate/candy/chips
2. A month without soda
3. A month without wine (this is super hard...I know)
4. 64oz water a day for a week
And GIVE YOURSELF CREDIT when you accomplish them! Seriously... fitness isn't just a short mission... you're changing your life and deciding to live healthier so that the HEALTHY you can shine through.

Ok, more soon...start there. Figure out why you're doing it, and set some goals for yourself. Leave a comment and share your goals if you want! I would love to hear them :)

xxo

Reference: The Beck Diet Solution

back and better than ever

Well, it's time. Time to keep myself accountable again so I've come back to the blog. 100dayshapeup was a bust as I let some of life's hurdles become road blocks that I saw as brick walls rather than just a challenge I could jump over and move past. But now, I'm back... I have a whole new life and I'm SHAPING IT UP! I moved to Chicago at the end of 2012 and early in 2013 (about March) I decided it was time to REALLY focus on what I was eating and what I'm doing to get the body I want and I know I can achieve. I stopped using a calorie counter ap that was telling me to eat too little (My Fitness Pal) and consulted with a nutrition expert. EAT TO LOSE was a whole new concept for me. I had no idea that the diets I'd used in the past weren't working because my body was slowing down into starvation mode. So... for the past 2 months I've been pushing myself to eat clean and train hard. No more 500 calorie elliptical workouts. I am training my entire body using High Intensity Interval Training techniques and weight lifting circuits. I will share details in later blog posts. If you read back to my old posts, you'll know I've struggled with Compulsive Over Eating. This addiction never goes away. It's like being an alcoholic or a drug addict... except that my addiction isn't a substance I can cut out of my life-- you can't NOT eat! So, I'm still working on ways to keep myself away from my trigger foods and stay on track. I'm going to use this blog, again, to keep track of my daily food intake as well as my workouts. I will weigh in on Wednesdays and try to get my body fat % tracked as accurately as possible (this is tough). I started at 196.6 lbs. My current weight is around 175-177 (depending on water/salt/sleep). I will do my best to keep my posts honest and accurate. I am going to look for some honest photos so I can show progress (and history).

92

I didn't sleep last night... no clue why, just couldn't relax. Maybe I just slept entirely too much over the past few days while sick and my body was just done! But I really thought after working out and all the stuff I got done yesterday that I would sleep. Nevertheless... nope!

So this morning I ate and did some really light core toning - just some leg lifts and bicycles in my bedroom. I packed my gym clothes and took them to work with me so that I can go on my way home!

FOOD:
Breakfast.
1 medium apple
2 TBS peanut butter
Snack.
20oz Perk-u-cino (this is super naughty...but the cold feels great on my throat and I needed the WAKE UP since I forgot to take my aderall today!)
Lunch.
1 can Progresso light soup
1 red grapefruit
Snack.
1 weightwatchers yogurt (omg, ameretto cheesecake, 1pt?! how do they do that?!?!?!)
Dinner.
Salad with crab meet and dark greens. Yum!
Snack.
100 cal bag of smartpop kettle corn

ACTIVITY.
Gym - 35 minutes of cardio on eliptical and arc trainers, then 15 minute walk on the tredmill...
I feel AMAZING. Working out puts a smile on my face after a long, boring day.
Short bike ride - returning redbox movies to 7-11

I feel really good today. Making this blog public on my Facebook and sharing the link with people who know me and can (if they so choose) help me keep myself accountable is really empowering. I'm so pumped to know that some of my friends are working on their own goals at the same time and that we can encourage each other along the way!!